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c P. BANZHOF. CiRCUlT CONTROLLING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-15' l9l8.

,324,371 Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIoE.

CHARLIES P. BANZHOF, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO THE FIDELITY ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPO- RATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Application filed August 15, 1918.

Too whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, CHARLEs P. BANZHOF, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Controlling Means, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to means for controlling electric circuits.

Ithas for its general object to provide a simple, reliable, and compact circuit controlling device of the solenoid type; the characteristics of simplification, reliability and compactness being attained by the direct interposition of a non-conducting tube between the armature and the solenoid, and the utilization of said tube to guide the armature and to confine a liquid by which movement of the armature is checked or retarded with a view -to preventing operation of the circuit breaker or other circuit controlling means except when the solenoid is normally energized, c'. 6., when the volume of current passmg through the solenoid is increased above a predetermined point, or

there is a sustained overload or asharp and heavy overload.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a solenoid circuit controlling alternating current motors; and it will be fully understood from the following description and 'clalms when the same are read in connection with the drawings ac Specification of 'Letters'Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Serial No. 250,013.

companying and forming part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1 shows one embodiment per se of my novel circuit breaking or controlling device.

Fig, 2 is a view showing a tandem type of device embodying my invention.

Referring by numeral to the said dra'w ings and more particularly to Fig. 1,

1 and 2 indicate the elements of a knife or other electric switch in combination with which my novel device may be employed,

Among other elements the illustrated specific embodiment of my invention comprises a stem 3 adapted to act against the switch member 1 with a view to breaking the circuit. The said stem 3 is fixed with respect to and movable with an armature 6. The said armature 6 is fitted in and guided by an insulating tube 7 which is of nonconducting material, glass being preferably the material employed; there being sufficient clearance between the reciprocating plunger or armature 6 and the interior wall of the insulating tube 7 to permit restricted passage of the fluid in said tube to enable the plunger to move forward and back therein. At its end the said tube is closed by ferrules 14k and 15, the ferrule '15 having an aperture as shown for the close passage of the stem 3.

Arranged in the tube 7 at the same'side of the armature 6 as the switch, is a liquid 4, preferably of viscous nature, which has for its function to retard the movement of the armature 6 under the influence of the solenoid 5 when the said solenoid is energized to the predetermined extent. The ferrules 14 and '15 are preferably of metal, and to the ferrule 14s is fixed a threaded stem 8 which is extended through a bracket 10 and is engaged by nuts 9, disposed at opposite sides of the said bracket. By virtue of'this latter provision the armature may be positioned at various points relative to the solenoid so as to bring about lifting or endwise movement of the armature by current volumes in proportion to thepositions of the armature with respect to the solenoid.

It will be gathered from the foregoing that in the practical use of my novel device the non-conducting tube 7 serves to effectually prevent the formation of a short-circuited secondary, and in that way contributes materially to the reliability and dura bility of the circuit breaker or controller as such, and the circuit breaker is more efficient in operation and performs its work with less waste of energy than circuit breakers of a similar type heretofore employed, in which a tube of metal, brass or non-magnetic material is inter osed between the plunger and the solenoi In the modification shown in Fig. 2, two solenoids 5 are arranged in tandem and the tube 7 is made comparatively lon but is equipped with ferrules 14 and 15 similar to those before described. In the comparatively long tube 7 two armatures 6 are employed, the same being connected through an interposed rod 16, and one of the same being provided with a stem 3 that is threaded as shown to receive nuts 12, through the medium of which the armatures may be adjusted and adjustably fixed with respect to their respective solenoids 5, according to the pre-determined volume of current that it is desired to employ in the solenoids to bring about an operation of the device. It will also be observed that in the modification a body of liquid 4 is interposed between the two armatures, and another body of liquid 4 is interposed between one armature and the ferrule 15; there being suflicient clearance between the reciprocating plungers and the interior wall of the insulating tube to permit restricted passage of the fluid as the plungers move back and forth.

' Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patcut is:

1. A. circuit breaker comprising a solenoid, a non-conducting tube extending through the solenoid, a reciprocating plunger in said tube, said tube containing a liquid adapted to retard the movement of said plun er, and means carried by the plunger a apted to open an electric circuit by contact with a movable element of a switch in said circuit.

2. In a circuit controlling device of the solenoid type, the combination of a solenoid, an armature complementary thereto, a nonconducting tube arran ed in interposed position between the so enoid and armature,

and liquid confined in the tube and adapted to retard movement of the armature,

3. A circuit breaker comprising a solenoid, T

a non-conducting tube extending through the solenoid, a reciprocating plunger'in said tube, said tube containinga liquid adapted:

to retard the movement of said plunger, and means carried by the plunger adapted to open an electric circuit by contact with a movable element of a switch in said circuit, together with means for adjusting and securing the plunger in different positions relative to the solenoid.

4. A circuit breaker comprising a coil, a non-conducting tube within said coil, a reciprocating plunger within said tube, said tube containing a liquid adapted to retard the movement of the plunger, and said plunger having a stem protruding through one end of the tube and adapted to open an electric circuit by contact with the movable element of a switch in said circuit.

5. The combination, in a circuit breaker, of a current carrying coil, a non-conducting tube arranged within said coil, said tube containing a liquid, and a reciprocating plun er within said tube having a stem protruding through one end of the tube and adapted in its movement through the coil to open an electric circuit by contact with the movable element of a switch in said circuit.

6. The combination of a solenoid, a tube positioned within and surrounded by the solenoid, an armature movable in the tube, and means partly within and partly without the tube whereby the armature may be adjustably positioned relative to the solenoid.

7. The combination of a non-conducting tube, a solenoid surrounding the same, ferrules closing the ends of the tube, an armature movable in the tube, liquid contained in the tube between the armature and one of the ferrules, and means extending partly within and partly without the tube and adjustably positioning the armature relative to the solenoid.

8. The combination, in a circuit breaker, of a plurality of solenoids arranged in tandem, a non-conducting tube extending through said solenoids, a plurality of reciprocating plungers in said tube connected together so as to move in unison, said tube containin a'liquid between the plungers and also a liquid between one plunger and the end of the tube for retarding the movement of the plungers, and means for adjusting and securing the plungers in difl'erent positions relative to the solenoids.

9. The combination, in a circuit breaker, of a plurality of solenoids arranged in tandem, a non-conducting tube extending through said solenoids, a plurality of reciprocating plungers in said tube connected together so 'as to move in unisomsaid tube containin a liquid between the plungers and also a liquid between one plunger and the end of the tube for retarding the movement of the plungers, and means actuated by said plungers adapted to open an electric circuit by contact with a movable element of a switch in said circuit. 1

10. The combination in a circuit breaker of a plurality of solenoids arranged in tandem, a non-conducting tube extending through said solenoids, a plurality of reciprocating plungers in said tube connected together so as to move in unison, said tube 10 containing a liquid between the plungers and also a liquid between one plunger and the end of the tube for retarding the movement of the plungers, means actuated by said plungers for opening an electric circuit by contact with a movable element of a switch in said circuit, and means for adjusting and securing the plungers in different positions relative to the solenoid.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

CHARLES P. BANZHOF. 

